[Leica] yearbook question, but political

[jnelon]

Tina,
Thanks for using Niemöller's quote. It reminded me of my exploration of the concentration camps when I put together a 50 year WWII retrospective. My cameras at the time were R-3's with motor drives shooting Kodachrome. I have found over time that the tools I use can be used to represent any storyline I wish to spin. And to spin one's preferred storyline here can dilute the goal of learning about Leica. I teach students in my Rhetoric & Argumentation class to conflate a tool with a compelling position, if they wish to win. For me that's the danger here: to take an inanimate tool (Leica) and conflate it with a political position (photojournalism with an anti-Trump belief.) That position just as easily could be pro- or con-Trump or any other intensely held belief. Thus Leica can become a pawn in the hands of rhetoric.

I vote to let the Leica equipment speak for itself without political embellishment.
Jim

James R. Nelon
Partner
WNDA Studios
O: +1.207.389.4676
C: +1.508.308.6525
Email: JNelon at WNDAStudios.com
Website: https://WNDAStudios.com
LinkedIn: https://LinkedIn.com/in/JamesNelon
Highlight Reel: https://Vimeo.com/252904552


-----Original Message-----
From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+jnelon=nelonassociates.com at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Tina Manley via LUG
Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2019 7:28 PM
To: Leica Users Group
Cc: Tina Manley
Subject: Re: [Leica] yearbook question, but political

Leicas have always been used for photojournalism.  You cannot avoid
politics when you are a photojournalist.  Taking sides is a good thing.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was
not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I
was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a
Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Martin Niemöller


TIna

On Wed, Oct 9, 2019 at 7:22 PM jnelon <jnelon at nelonassociates.com> wrote:

> Brian,
> Whether I'm for or against Trump or anyone else has nothing directly to do
> with my use of Leica products to make my pictures. I can recall admonitions
> about political discussions on the LUG forum, with the idea to try to stay
> on-message with the Red Dot when using this forum. I'm dismayed that the
> LUG
> may take a turn away from the idea of a forum for Leica-produced images and
> directly related topics. That's my vote: let's keep the LUG on its
> historical target.
> Jim
>
> James R. Nelon
> Partner
> WNDA Studios
> O: +1.207.389.4676
> C: +1.508.308.6525
> Email: JNelon at WNDAStudios.com
> Website: https://WNDAStudios.com
> LinkedIn: https://LinkedIn.com/in/JamesNelon
> Highlight Reel: https://Vimeo.com/252904552
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: LUG [mailto:lug-bounces+jnelon=nelonassociates.com at leica-users.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Brian Reid
> Sent: Wednesday, October 9, 2019 6:27 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: [Leica] yearbook question, but political
>
> I'm working hard on the announcement of the rules and procedures for the
> 2019 LUG Yearbook.
>
> All previous yearbooks have donated sales revenues to a worthy charity.
> I like the idea, but I'm wondering...
>
> I am sorely tempted to send any proceeds from the sale of this yearbook
> to some organization devoted to preventing the re-election of Donald
> Trump. If you are offended by that, but don't want to say so in public,
> feel free to email me privately at brian at reid.org
>
> I know that this is a very US-centric activity, but in my opinion he is
> a danger to the entire world and not just to the USA.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


-- 
Tina Manley
www.tinamanley.com
http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley
<http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography/3B49552F-90A0-4D0A-A11D-2175C937AA91/Tina+Manley.html>
*https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/649596.html
<https://www.alamy.com/portfolio/649596.html>*

_______________________________________________
Leica Users Group.
See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information